Air-starter for internal-combustion engines.



SHEET I.

3 SHEETS Patented Mar. 14

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 19M.

.INVE/VTOR F. E. CLINE.

AIR STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. 1914.

1,175,708. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.-

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

n I\ IL IIIII I Q 3 I IIII/I/II/ WITNESSES ATTORNEYS 'I'III: COLUMBIA-PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D.

F. E. CLINE.

AIR STARTER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6, 19M.

1,175,708. Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l/VI/EIVTOR W/T/VESSES f??0fC4//v ATTORNEYS THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

TJ'N TTEE TATE PATENT @FFT FRED E. GLINE, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ()NE-HALF 'JG SYLVESTER V. THOMPSON, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

AIR-STARTER- FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed. October 6, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED E. CLINE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of San Diego, county of San Diego, and State of California, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Air-Starters for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an air starter for internal combustion engines, the starter being arranged to compress air within a reservoir while the engine is running and by means of suitable valves to subsequently utilize the stored pressure for the starting of the internal combustion engine.

A further object is to provide an air pump and motor with cylinders of the rocking type which in addition to including few parts will be light in weight and will occupy little space, thus rendering it particularly adapted for the purpose in hand.

A further object is to provide a starter for engines including an air pump and motor which is mechanically driven by a friction wheel bearing against the fly wheel of the motor. A movable bearing supports one extremity of the shaft upon which the friction wheel for the pump-motor is mounted and which bearing is resiliently locked in a position with the friction" wheel in contact with an engine fly wheel and coacting with which locking means is a pressure release mechanism providing for the disengagement of the air pump-motor at a predetermined pressure.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination, and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described, and claimed, it being understood that changes in .the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification andforming a part thereof, the preferred form of my invention is illustrated, in which Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an air pump-motor and accessory parts constituting my improved air starter. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the foregoing, portions being in section, more clearly illus- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

Serial no. 865,307.

trating the Various structural features involved,F 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, Fig. fl: is a cross sectional view taken on line ll of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a detail view of the floating bearing for the pump-motor driving shaft and the pressure released locking mechanism therefor. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the'bearing brackets for the pump-motor cylinders.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the crank case 8 includes the spaced upstanding end plates or brackets 9 upon which the cylinders 10 are supported. The cylinders are of the rocking type for which reason they are provided with the oppositely and outwardly extending stub shafts 11 which project through the apertures 12 formed in the reinforced portions 13 of the brackets.

The stub shafts are provided with holding nuts 1% threadedly engaging their outer extremities and bearing against the compression springs 15 which impinge at their outer extremities against the nuts in question, and at their inner extremities against the brackets or casing end plates 9, at which points they encompass the reinforcing blocks 13 and are accordingly held against lateral shifting. The cylinders are provided at their upper and lower extremities with the openings 1617 which are arranged to alternatingly register with the apertures 18 1S1919 of the plates 9. The cylinder openings are brought into such registration by means of the unitary piston rods 20 which extend between the piston heads 21 and offset arms 22 of the crank shaft 23. Suitable pipes 24. extend between and connect the openings l819,1819 and which pipes form a portion of the intake supply manifold 25 and the exhaust-outlet manifold 26. A, pipe 27 communicates with the intake-supply manifold 25 and is provided with a throttle valve 28 therein which communicates with the pressure reservoir 29. An automatic air inlet valve 30 is positioned within the intake supply manifold 25 and, as illustrated in Fig. 3, has the spring pressed plunger 31 disposed therein whereby suitable provision is had for the admission of air into the intake supply manifold but sealed against the outflow of air therefrom.

A pipe 32, communicating with the presliml sure reservoir, connects with the exhaust outlet manifold 26 and is provided with a three way controlling valve 33 therein. The three way controlling valve has a rotor 34: therein whereby the manifold 26 is brought into communication with either the pressure reservoir '29 for the supply of compressed air thereto or into communication with the exhaust pipe 35. Acheck valve 36 is located within the pipe 32 intermediate the pressure reservoir and three way valve and although allowing the admission of compressed air into the reservoir, prevents a reflux therefrom. v

The friction wheel 37 is mounted upon the shaft 38 and, by means of the universal joint 39 connected therewith is adapted to drive the crank shaft 23. The opposite extremity of the shaft is mounted within a floating bearing, thus allowing the friction wheel 37 to be brought into contact with or removed from the fly wheel 39 of an internal combustion engine or a member driven thereby. The floating bearing, as illustrated in Fig. 5, comprehends a journal 40 in which the shaft 38 is rotatably mounted. The journal has oppositely extending trunnions 4-1 projecting therefrom which pivotally engage the sliding and apertured carriage 4:2, the latter being restricted to rectilinearv motion by the tracks l3. A tensional spring 1% is anchored at one extremity to a stationary structure, (not shown) and is linhedly connected at its opposite extremity to the sliding carriage as at 15. This tensional spring normally holds the friction wheel out of contact with the engine drive wheel 39.

A bracket 46, provided with an outstanding pin 17 pivotally mounts the manually ingly rotated or adapted to rotate the same according to whether the starter is acting in the'capacity of an air motor or air pump.

In order to lock the lever 18 'in position with the friction wheel in its engaged position the pressure released locking mechanism49 is provided and includes the cylinder 50 supported by the arm 51 which projects from the bracket 46. A plunger 52 is slidably mounted within the cylinder and includes the bolt 53 projecting through the stufling box 54 and arranged in the path of movement of the lever 48 as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. The bolt 53 is normally held in its extended position illustrated in Fig. 2 by the compression spring 55 which bears at its one extremity against the adjustable plug 56 whichv is threaded within the end of the cylinder. The plug includes the wrench engageable projecting portion 57 whereby the action of the spring may be properly retarded or enhanced. The plug includes the centrally disposed aperture 58 providing for the sliding-of the plunger rod 59 and with a second aperture 60 which provides a duct for the air within the cylinder in back of the plunger. A pressure pipe 61 with the valve 62 therein connects with the cylinder 50 and when the valve is in an open position either retracts or extends the bolt 53 according to the force- The V three way valve by the link 63'is simultaneously opened thus supplying air pressure to the cylinders and forcibly rotating the crank shaft with the result that the-mechanism operates 1n the capacity of an air or pressure motor, forcibly driving the friction wheel 37which at the disposition of the lever 48 rotates the fly wheel 139" thus effecting the desired result. With the engine in operation the link 63 is reversibly moved closing the throttle valve 28 and-bringing the mani fold 26 into communication with the pressure reservoir. The starter then acts in the capacity of an air pump supplying pressure to the reservoir and continuing so to do, un-

til such time as the pressure within the cylinder 50 neutralizes the force of the spring 55 and retracts the bolt 53. The retraction of the bolt releases the 'lever' 48 and allows the floating bearing to be, moved by the spring 44 for the disengagement of the friction wheels, thus stopping the air pump and preventing the further accumulation of pressures within the reservoir; A pipe 6 1,

provided with a valve 65, communicates with the pressure reservoir and may be utilized for pumping tires or for the operation of any air drivendevices.

Having thus described my invention what 7 I claim is 1. A starter comprising a crank case with spaced upstanding end walls, oscillating cylinders pivotally secured to said walls and provided with openings leading therein adapted to register with inlet and exhaust ports formed in the said end walls, mani:

folds communicating with the said ports, a

reservoir communicating with said manifolds and mechanically connected throttle and three way valves disposed within said manifolds, and an automatic air inlet valve.

communicating with one of the said manifolds.

cylinders pivotally secured to said walls and provided with openings leading therein adapted to register with the inlet and exhaust ports formed in the said end walls, manifolds communicating with the said ports, a reservoir communicating with said manifolds, mechanically connected throttle and three way valves disposed within said manifolds, and means connected to the starter motor adapted to be brought into engagement with and disengaged from the rotating portion of an internal combustion engine.

3. An air pump-motor for engine starters comprising a crank case with upstanding spaced end walls, a crank shaft rotatably mounted therein, a number of cylinders with oppositely projecting stub shafts, said stub shafts projecting through and pivotally engaging apertures formed in said end walls, said cylinders provided with openings at the upper and lower extremities thereof and adapted to register with ports formed in the said end walls, pistons slidably mounted within said cylinders and connected to said crank shaft, a pressure reservoir, an intake supply manifold communicating with said ports and said reservoir, an exhaust and outlet manifold communicating with said ports and with said reservoir, an automatic air inlet disposed within said intake-supply manifold, a three way valve disposed within said exhaust and outlet manifold, an exhaust pipe communicating therewith, a throttle valve disposed within said intake supply manifold and mechanically connected to and operated simultaneously with the three way valve, and means engaging said crank shaft adapted to engage and to be disengaged from an internal combustion engine wheel, and means adapted to lock the aforementioned means in its engaged position.

4. An apparatus of the class described comprising an air pump-motor means for receiving pressure therefrom and for supplying pressure thereto, a shaft, a universal joint at one extremity thereof engaging the pump-motor shaft, a sliding bearing sup porting the remote extremity of said shaft adapted to engage coacting motion transmitting means, a lever resiliently connected to said sliding bearing adapted to hold said motion transmitting means in engagement, a retractible bolt adapted to lock said lever in the said position, and a pressure operated plunger engaging said bolt and controlling the movements thereof adapted to retract said bolt for the releasement of said lever at adjustable predetermined pressures.

5. An apparatus of the class described comprising an air pump-motor, means for receiving pressure therefrom and for supplying pressure thereto, a shaft, a universal joint at one extremity thereof engaging the pump-motor shaft, a sliding bearing supporting the remote extremity of said shaft, coacting motion transmitting means, a lever resiliently connected to said sliding hearing adapted to hold said motion transmitting means in engagement, a retractible bolt adapted to lock said lever in the said position, a pressure operated plunger engaging said bolt and controlling the movements thereof adapted to retract said bolt for the releasement of said lever at adjustable predetermined pressures, and resilient means engaging said sliding bearing adapted to shift the shaft for the disengagement of said motion transmitting means upon the releasement of said lever.

FRED E. CLINE. Witnesses:

IDA THOMPSON, HUBERT F. MULLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

